Island



R. A. BUTLER.

(No Model.)

TRAIN ALARM.

Patented June 15,1897.

mums PETERS co, PNOTGUTHB" wasmuu llnrrn Srarns a'rnu'r v FICE.

RICHARD A. BUTLER, OF PAWVTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

TRAiN' ALAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,540, dated June 15,1897.

Application filed May 25, 1894. Serial No. 512,476. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD A. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTrain-Alarms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and eXact description of the in vention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide an alarm-signal for the benefitof trainmen when approaching an overhead bridge, and I accomplish thisby the means illustrated in the accompanying mechanism in the drawings,of which Figure 1 designates a front elevation of the post and signalsystem, and Fig. 2 designates a side view in elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a detail view showing the construction of the trip-toe and itsoperation in conjunction with the shaft 5.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout.

In Fig. 1, a designates a strip of spring-steel secured upon a metalcushion b, which rests upon a plunger 0. The plunger 0 is looselysecured and pivoted to the bell-crank lever cl. The free ends of thisspring a rest on the lower part of the rail or sleepers and is so shapedthat the top part of the same rises above the top of the rail and uponthe outside thereof in such a manner that the tread of the passingwheels of the car will impinge upon the strip and force the same downupon the lever d. This lever d, as above described, is a bell-cranklever fulcrumed in the top of the double post E and having an arm 0'.This arm 0 extends to a similar double post 10 and works back and forthon the axis of said post by means of a slot in the end thereof.

To the lower arm of the bell-crank lever (Z is secured a wire F,extending at right angles to the rail (1 in any suitable boX or casingfor the same to the foot of the post S. At the base of this post S ispivoted the bell-crank lever g, to the end of the upper arm of which issecured the end of the wire F. From the lower arm of this bell-cranklever the wire I-I extends up the post S by means of any proper guidesto the lower arm I. This arm I is sewhich in turn is pivoted to theouter arm of the lever K. In the end of the lever K is loosely secured atrip-toe L, the use of which will hereinafter appear. Upon a post n, eX-tending at right angles from the frame X, is loosely secured lever M,terminating in a hammer m.

N designates a spiral spring secured to the frame X and the arm M of thehammer in such a manner that when the hammer is-raised it will bebrought down upon the gong G and sound the alarm.

0 designates a spiral spring secured tothe frame X and the trip-toe L,its purpose being to bring the trip-toe back to its position.

8' designates a shaft extending from about midway of the hammer-shaft Mand on the inside thereof between said shaft and .the frame to saidframe X. The trip-toe L when raised by the lever K catches against andlifts this shafts, thus raising the hammer. Then the hammer is released,it is forced by the spring N against the gong G.

The manner of using my invention is as follows: As the wheels of thepassing train depress the spring a through the system of wires andlevers as constructed and described,

the motion is transmitted to the hammer, which is in turn forced againstthe gong. My idea is to place this gong upon a post raised to about theheight of the top of a freight-car and so near the top of the car as toconvey an immediate warning to any trainmen upon the top of the same.

I am aware that several devices have been employed for this purpose-via,warning trainmen of the approach to an overhead bridgebut none that I amaware of similar to mine. The great advantage which I claim for it isits simplicity of structure and certainty.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a train-alarm, the combination of a spring-shoe normally extendingabove the shoe, an alarm-gong, a post for suitably supporting the same,an operative connection from said plunger to said gongg'and areciprocating rod 0, one end of which is secured to the train ofoperative mechanism so as to be reciprocated thereby, and the other endis provided with means for limiting its movement of reciprocation,substantially as described.

2. In a device for train-alarms, the combination'of the curved spring atextending above the rail, secured to the plunger 0 by means of thecushion b the bell-crank lever d, the

. wire F extending from lever d to the base of the post S, the elbow gsecured to the base of the post S, the rod 11 extending up said postfrom the elbow g to the arm I pivoted in frame X and provided with aspiral spring 19,

the arm J pivoted to said arm I, the arm K pivoted to said arm J, thetrip-toe Lsecured in the end of the said arm K and provided I.

with a spiral spring 0, the lever M pivoted to the projection from theframe X and provided with a spiral spring N, the shaft 5 adjusted to beengaged by the trip-toe L, the hammer m and the gong G, allsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ofsubscribing witnesses.

RICHARD A. BUTLER.

In presence of- EDWARD W. BLODGETT, WILLIAM W. BLODGETT.

